This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving back from rome ga to cartersville ga my van made a funny noise and my speed dropped from 60 to 50 and then my back tires felt funny like I had run over something but I know I had not hit any thing so as I got closer to the exit then my ABS light came on. After I stopped at a station I checked my brake fluid but it was full, I checked my tires they where good because they are new. When I got home I had my breaks & plugs checked and they are good. I don't know what else to do. The ABS light is still on, while driving my van still lose speed on hills and level ground. Help me please this is my only way to get where I need to go.
I have owned this van since 1999. Since I have owned it we have had nothing but problems with it. I have had the rotors turned, and replaced at least 3 times, and they need it again. I have had the head gasket replaced 3 times and one of them times was at 99,000 miles when it was under the warrenty. It had been replaced at least one time before that. My sliding door won't stay closed, even though I just spent $300 getting a new latched put on. My windows won't work. I had larson motors fix a head gasket and my electronic windows, cost me over $250 for the window, that only worked 2 times. I called, and since they put "may not be the problem" on the invoice, they think that clears them, and they wanted me to spend more money on another part. My speedometor has been replaced once and is broke again. The alternator has been replaced. I could go on and on. I am getting no where with anyone. I have spent around $5,000 in repairs, and can't trade the thing off, since I still owe too much on it, due to a tornado that hit our home, and what the insurance didn't cover, the balance was put on our car loan. We don't have the best credit do to having to spend anywhere from $100-300+ a month on repairs to this lemon car. I have a family and need to know that I have a reliable car to drive. I have been stranded with my 3 children a minimum of 4 times this past year.
Left-front and right-rear slow air leaks. Tire shop couldn't find leaks under water and suggested that vehicle weight stresses the welded seams of the wheels causing the leaks. Ford service parts wants $110 per wheel but cannot guarantee that leaks will stop. Online repair forums know of this problem and suggest using a hot glue gun at the welded seam but then there's nobody who wants to do that and I can't single-handedly remove the tires and apply the glue and remount the tires. It seems that Ford has been having this problem with wheels on their vehicles for many models over many years but I couldn't find any recalls in your database.
While driving, consumer sideswiped a parked car, the wheel then came off, causing consumer to hit two more vehicles before coming to a stop, claim 05-4615-981.
In January 2001 both front tires would go flat overnight. After 2 or 3 visits to tire shops found out there was a failure of both front wheels due to broken welds and not a tire problem. In July of 2001 the third wheel failure occurred and now in Sept. 2001 the fourth wheel has failed. Dealer denies knowledge of any defect or complaints from other customers; however a non-dealer company manager who sold replacement wheels to me says both he and wholesaler know this to be a problem with Ford Windstar.
While driving about 5-10 mph the wheel on the left front cracked. The dealer is aware of the problem. The wheel has been replaced by owner at his expense.
On the cylinder head gasket issue, I received a letter from Ford last May 1998 and took the vehicle to the dealer to have it inspected. I was told that they check the vehicle and there was no problem with the gasket. Now I am face with major repairs on the engine. The fuel tank is extremely slow filling. I fear a potential fire or explosion related to the fuel filler issue. The transmission groans mostly in the morning and at times does not engage in drive or reverse. Also the form wheel bearings failed early in the vehicles life, another expensive repair was necessary. There is no temperature control to modify the rear heater temperature.
I've had two rim/wheel failures within six months, both of which caused loss of tire pressure. Luckily there were no injuries but I don't believe wheel rims should fail.
As stated previously, the left front wheel on our Ford Windstar suddenly cracked as she was backing out of our driveway this morning. We immediately took the van to the dealership where we bought it (we are the original owners) and were told they had never seen a problem like this before and that it was no longer under warranty. I believe the wheel is defective perhaps from metal fatigue, but in any event a serious accident could have occured and owners of this year model should be notified and the wheels checked. I also think that Ford or the dealership have a responsibility to pay for replacement of this defective wheel.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Adairsville, GA, USA